MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway this week published its Winter Plan or 2024-25, an annual document required by the Canadian government to address operating plans in the demanding conditions that can develop in the northern climate.
Highlights of the preparations, as outlined by the railroad, include:
— Air car program: CN has spent more than Ca$1 million this year overhaul 20 of its air cars, used to boost air brake systems and reduce the need to shorten trains in cold weather. The work, including replacement of air compressors and other components, is part of Ca$61.6 million in spending on the air car program since 2009. The railroad has more than 100 of the modified boxcars in service.
— Track inspections: The railroad is now operating the fourth generation Autonomous Track Inspection Program equipment, a set of 11 railcars that provide track measurements at normal train pseeds. The latest version includes ground-penetrating radar to provide assessments of ballast and subgrade conditions.
— Advance planning: The railroad says it maintains a “strategic reserve” of locomotives in key corridors to limit weather delays, and also has backup power generators in place across its network, allowing operations to continue in case of local or widespread power outages.
— Staffing: The railroad has increased the number of available operating employees by 9% between April 2023 and May 2024 but says it expects new federal regulations to require “hundreds of additional personnel in Canada to move the same amount of freight.” The railroad and its operating union are currently engaged in binding arbitration after a brief work stoppage in August.
The full Winter Plan is available here.
Comedy gold. It’s still going to be a complete disaster once it hits -25.